Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited During the Voyage Round the World of H.M.S. Beagle Under the Command of Captain Fitz Roy, R.N.

A NATURALIST’S VOYAGE
ROUND THE WORLD

    First Edition    May 1860
    Second Edition   May 1870
    Third Edition    February 1872
    Fourth Edition   July 1874
    Fifth Edition    March 1876
    Sixth Edition    January 1879
    Seventh Edition  May 1882
    Eighth Edition   February 1884
    Ninth Edition    August 1886
    Tenth Edition    January 1888
    Eleventh Edition January 1890
    Reprinted        June 1913

[Illustration: H.M.S. BEAGLE IN STRAITS OF MAGELLAN. MT SARMIENTO IN
THE DISTANCE.]




Journal of Researches
into the
Natural History & Geology
of the
countries visited during the voyage
round the world of H.M.S. _Beagle_

under the command of Captain Fitz Roy, R.N.

By Charles Darwin, M.A., F.R.S.

AUTHOR OF ‘ORIGIN OF SPECIES,’ ETC.

[Illustration]

A new edition with illustrations by R. T. Pritchett
of places visited and objects described.

LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET
1913.




TO
CHARLES LYELL, ESQ., F.R.S.


This second edition is dedicated with grateful pleasure, as an
acknowledgment that the chief part of whatever scientific merit this
journal and the other works of the author may possess, has been derived
from studying the well-known and admirable

PRINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY.




PREFATORY NOTICE TO THE ILLUSTRATED EDITION.


This work was described, on its first appearance, by a writer in the
_Quarterly Review_ as “One of the most interesting narratives of
voyaging that it has fallen to our lot to take up, and one which must
always occupy a distinguished place in the history of scientific
navigation.”

This prophecy has been amply verified by experience; the extraordinary
minuteness and accuracy of Mr. Darwin’s observations, combined with the
charm and simplicity of his descriptions, have ensured the popularity
of this book with all classes of readers—and that popularity has even
increased in recent years. No attempt, however, has hitherto been made
to produce an illustrated edition of this valuable work: numberless
places and objects are mentioned and described, but the difficulty of
obtaining authentic and original representations of them drawn for the
purpose has never been overcome until now.

Most of the views given in this work are from sketches made on the spot
by Mr. Pritchett, with Mr. Darwin’s book by his side. Some few of the
others are taken from engravings which Mr. Darwin had himself selected
for their interest as illustrating his voyage, and which have been
kindly lent by his son.

Mr. Pritchett’s name is well known in connection with the voyages of
the _Sunbeam_ and _Wanderer_, and it is believed that the
illustrations, which have been chosen and verified with the utmost care
and pains, will greatly add to the value and interest of the “VOYAGE OF
A NATURALIST.”

JOHN MURRAY.

_December_ 1889.




AUTHOR’S PREFACE.


I have stated in the preface to the first Edition of this work, and in
the _Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle_, that it was in consequence
of a wish expressed by Captain Fitz Roy, of having some scientific
person on board, accompanied by an offer from him of giving up part of
his own accommodations, that I volunteered my services, which received,
through the kindness of the hydrographer, Captain Beaufort, the
sanction of the Lords of the Admiralty. As I feel that the
opportunities which I enjoyed of studying the Natural History of the
different countries we visited have been wholly due to Captain Fitz
Roy, I hope I may here be permitted to repeat my expression of
gratitude to him; and to add that, during the five years we were
together, I received from him the most cordial friendship and steady
assistance. Both to Captain Fitz Roy and to all the Officers of the
_Beagle_[1] I shall ever feel most thankful for the undeviating
kindness with which I was treated during our long voyage.

 [1] I must take this opportunity of returning my sincere thanks to Mr.
 Bynoe, the surgeon of the _Beagle_, for his very kind attention to me
 when I was ill at Valparaiso.

This volume contains, in the form of a Journal, a history of our
voyage, and a sketch of those observations in Natural History and
Geology, which I think will possess some interest for the general
reader. I have in this edition largely condensed and corrected some
parts, and have added a little to others, in order to render the volume
more fitted for popular reading; but I trust that naturalists will
remember that they must refer for details to the larger publications
which comprise the scientific results of the Expedition. The _Zoology
of the Voyage of the Beagle_ includes an account of the Fossil
Mammalia, by Professor Owen; of the Living Mammalia, by Mr. Waterhouse;
of the Birds, by Mr. Gould; of the Fish, by the Reverend L. Jenyns; and
of the Reptiles, by Mr. Bell. I have appended to the descriptions of
each species an account of its habits and range. These w